by JULES » Sun Sep 01, 2019 4:46 am
There are a few points worth clarifying/explaining that have been raised in the above few posts…
First, NHBandit - it would be nice to know who you are, merely on a ‘friendly’ basis, – anyway, to your questions/points……
You specifically mentioned pricing. This is a topic I have covered on countless occasions over the last 10 years. The real answer can run to many 1000’s of words but here is the distilled version:-
The final retail price you pay will vary depending on the dealer mark-up. Some choose to make a small profit and shift plenty of product, other choose a higher % profit and they loose sales.
In a world where customer loyalty is lost with the click of a mouse, it is competitive out there. Pioneer gave up with a suggested MRSP many years ago it’s way too difficult to police.
You asked why there is, to you, such a large difference in what might be perceived by many as a very similar product (Pioneer vs. Scalextric)……
Manufacturing procedures in many Chinese toy factories rely on mass production of one item, or type of car, at a time and I expect in the case of the Scalextric brand you mentioned this is perhaps the case. In addition, particularly lately, there could be an economic efficiency by standardizing many chassis components and other cost-saving decoration procedures.
There are perhaps many other factors involved that influence ex-factory unit cost but I’m not entirely privy to them so I would not want to speculate.
You mentioned that your particular favorite is the Dodge Charger. That is a good example. If you strip down a Scalextric Dodge Charger and then strip down a Pioneer Dodge Charger you’ll notice it takes longer to do that with more parts. That exercise works the other way as well.
The other cost factor is design and tooling and labor costs. It’s true that your average Chinese factor worker now earns way more than they ever have before but the hourly rate is still considerably less than Western rates. I pay Western rates to get Pioneer cars screwed together.
Having said all of the above, my trade price to dealers is just about all I can charge with a small profit included. As I have said many, many times before, Pioneer models are the most expensive plastic-molded RTR slot models to actually produce in a factory and that includes other brands that have ‘perceived’ upscale metal parts & chassis platforms and aluminum wheels and sticky tires. None of them cost more to make than a Pioneer car but folks pay premium prices for them nonetheless and often considerably more.
On so onto Slothead’s observations…..
Joe’s first paragraph is pretty much covered in my explanation above but it is worth noting that whoever is selling Pioneer models in the USA for $45.00 will not be building up a handsome pension pot. That is not possible.
Joe’s last comment does refer to an expensive slot car. By all accounts, he’s very happy with the purchase and that is the important point for him.
Billy Boy – be nice to know your real name (although it might actually be your real name in which case it’s ace) – The answer to your question as to how many cars you need to acquire to be come a deal is:- Not as many as you might think. In fact it’s pretty low on an annual basis but consistency is the key. Full T’s & C’ available upon direct request via a PM. What the slot car business does not need are weekend/spare bedroom retailers trying to pinch a tiny slice of an existing market but that subject needs it’s own topic (like it has many times before).
Finally then, back to Joe the Slothead: Thank you for getting hold of a Red Devil Charger. You’re correct that the steelie wheels are not widely available right now. They have been fitted to the Red Devil and a few extra colored versions of these wheels have been supplied recently to Sir Harry the Wise. Some will also be on their way shortly to an HRW contributor you will be very familiar with.
Bye for now,
Jules
Pioneer
